It
had been five years since the accident that derailed Veronica’s
life, which left her suffering from a strange flu-like illness ever
since. Thanks to a barrier set in her mind at birth, she can’t
remember her name is Harmony and that this is not her real life. She
has no memory of the many lives she had lived before this one and how
several of those lives had been cut short. How she must uncover the
reason why those lives had ended so early, and how this moment may
hold the key, or she risks losing herself and Earth forever.
As
Harmony, she wants to uncover the reason why her lives keep ending so
soon. As Veronica, she wonders how much longer she has to live like
this? What could possibly be left for her? Little did she know, she
was about to get her answers...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
My
world is your world—only you can’t remember any of it. A barrier
exists between what you think is real and what you know to be. It had
been put in place during the transition into the world you currently
know and will be removed upon your return.
In
other words, this is not your real life.
My
name is Harmony, and I am going to let you in on a little secret. I
am a student at the biggest, most famous school ever known. And so
are you! It’s called Earth.
Yep.
Earth is a school. Are you shocked? If you are, it’s okay. That is
the most common and expected reaction to this news. I will give you a
moment to let that sink in…
Just
kidding! Based on the fact you’ve chosen to read this; I am going
to bet that you’re a lot like me. You’re probably fine, and not
shocked by this at all. If you do, however, find this news to be at
all surprising, perhaps it would be best if you stopped here. This
story may not be for everyone, and I am not looking to upset anyone’s
beliefs. Our extreme diversity is an important part of what makes us
who we are. So, this may be where we will agree to disagree and
possibly part ways. Hopefully as friends.
For
everyone else, I will move on.
Yes,
life is about learning, and Earth is our school. I’m sure you have
heard someone on Earth say this before. I know when I am there, I
hear this often. Some people know, but it’s not because they
remember it is. They know because people cannot get through a single
day there without learning something, somehow. On Earth, learning is
unavoidable.
Author Interview
If
you could apologize to someone in your past, who would it be?
An
old friend of mine from high school. I unfriended him on social media
right after my mom died for a few reasons that I am not so sure
anymore he deserved at the time. Hopefully he gives me the chance to
apologize eventually.
If
you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would
you have?
Probably
a dragon. I would love to train a baby dragon. I’ll bet that would
be fun. I imagine it being Just like a cat but with flames to dodge
and little fires to put out all the time.
How
do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in
this particular genre?
I
write what makes me happy. That will always make the difference.
What
are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?
The
worse was “remove the word THAT as much as possible.” THAT was
dumb. The other was to read Save the Cat! Writes a novel. Lots of
great advice in that book.
Are
the experiences in this book based on someone you know, or events in
your own life?
I
often toy with the idea that maybe the past lives in this story are
my own and that perhaps they are memories. But they are not. I made
it all up.
Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating:
Five out of Five Stars
This story is a hoot!
This book is well-written, fast-paced, clever, amusing, and lots of fun. The story is based on the premise that Earth is a classroom. In between lives, a soul named Harmony makes a bet with her fellow soul, Kaleb. Harmony believes if a soul concentrates hard enough on what they want to achieve on Earth, they can pull it through from the afterlife realm and make it happen. Kaleb is skeptical, so Harmony says she will concentrate on finding him during their forthcoming lives.
The life where Harmony meets her end by slipping in vomit and plunging from the deck of an ocean liner to her doom reminded me of Agrajag, the unfortunate character whom Arthur Dent keeps inadvertently killing in Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy. This author's style isn't as absurdist as Douglas Adams' was, but she still has a cheeky sense of humor that I appreciate.
This book is suitable for all ages but will probably be best appreciated by teenagers and young adults. While I enjoyed the ride, as a nearly 60-year-old curmudgeon for whom school sucked like an industrial-strength vacuum extractor, I find the idea of being stuck in an eternal classroom insufferable. As someone who actually does consider reincarnation to be a possibility, I suppose I have to resign myself to suffering through school repeatedly during my youthful phases. However, I refuse to do so during my time between lives. I'll be cutting class!
This book is only 99 cents on Amazon? Hurry and grab your copy before the author comes to her senses and raises the price! I'm not joking. This is a real bargain for an enjoyable story that will make you laugh, think, and raise your spirits all at the same time.
I can't give a higher score than five of five stars, but I give the author bonus points for having exceptional taste in music. If she were alive in the 1980s (heck, maybe she was) I believe she and I would have gotten along. However, she seems to be much more together than I ever was in the daze of my youth.
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
Billie
Kowalewski grew up in a small town along the Connecticut shoreline.
She’s always had a wild imagination and spent her childhood
dreaming up stories. This would often lead her to the library or
whatever bookstore where she would be combing the shelves for books
that closely resembled what was in her head at the time. A lot of the
time she would come close and would be satisfied with what she found.
However, there was always this one story she could never find. It was
in 2010 that she decided to write it herself. In whatever spare time
she has left, she enjoys listening to pretty much anything that
rocks, like 80's hair bands, metal, etc. She also has a gift for
finding the strangest movies and shows ever (according to her
children) and loves spending time with her family.
“Why do I get the feeling that Christopher is the type of man that would make the perfect husband for any woman and, at the same time, the perfect wife for any man?” Laura says shortly after Christopher begins his new job at the TV station. Laura’s statement would turn out to hold more truth than she could imagine. No one who meets Christopher, especially not Laura, as well as David, a gay man he meets at a party, understands what it is about him that draws them to him. They also don’t realize that Christopher is searching for something, a search complicated by their desires for him.
As Search for Complete left off, the birth of his twins had just completed Christopher. However, though he has what he had searched so long for, he now must deal with the associated costs, namely the unraveling of his relationship with Laura, the mother of his twins. The birth of the twins should have brought Laura joy, yet, instead, she finds herself on an intense emotional rollercoaster. Laura resents Christopher's happiness—resents that he is a better mother than she is. But most of all, Laura resents that the twins are Christopher's spitting image—nowhere does she see herself in them. Christopher fears his happiness in becoming a father has become Laura’s undoing. As he tries to help her adjust to the reality of their situation, Laura struggles to find herself in the tangled mess of their relationship.
In The Price of Happiness, Stephen Hardy has created a profound and moving novel on the themes of parenthood, identity, love and loss—and the cost of getting what we want.
BOOK 3
Book Title: When the Sun and Moon Touch
Length: 87 639 words/353 Pages
Release Date: March 29, 2024
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Literary Fiction
Tropes: M2M relationships
Themes: Finding oneself, forgiveness, love
The stories need to be read in order. This book does not end on a cliffhanger.
Christopher has settled into life as a single father to his twins, Loren and Christine. Content with his life, he is contemplating the imminent return of their mother Laura, who has been traveling through Europe for nearly a year, when he meets Benjamin, a direct descendant of the sun. Suddenly, his contentment is upended as he tries to understand the reason for their meeting. Despite what Benjamin says, that they are meant to be together, Christopher initially tries to hold
Benjamin at arm's length, believing that he is only to be for Benjamin what Joseph was to him—a friend and mentor.
Excerpt from Book 1
I began to question accepting Laura’s invitation when I heard the noise coming from the backyard as we approached the house. I disliked crowds, and it sounded like an immense crowd was on the other side of the gate.
People were everywhere—seated on lounge chairs scattered around the patio or at the rectangular dining table or milling about in various groups—talking loudly over the blaring music. Laura’s voice broke through the noise.
“I don’t see Peter anywhere. He might be inside. Shall we find him?”
“By all means. I would feel uncomfortable attending his party without meeting him.”
I followed Laura into the house. As we passed through the living room, my eyes fell on a few framed photos of a handsome couple on the wall.
In the kitchen, a solitary male figure was removing a tray of croissants from the oven.
“Hello, Peter.”
As he turned around, I recognized Peter as one of the men in the photos. Tall and slender, with dark hair and a mustache waxed into handlebars, there was a dapperness to him that I found pleasing.
“Hey, Laura. Lovely to see you!”
After setting the hot tray down, Peter hugged her.
“Peter, I want you to meet Christopher. He just moved here from Seattle and works with me at the station.”
“How do you do, Peter?“
Having grown used to the reaction my presence caused, I smiled patiently as Peter, unable to speak right away, shook my offered hand.
“I hope you do not mind my crashing your party. Laura assured me that you would not object to her bringing me.”
“No, of course, I don’t mind.”
The words tumbled out one on top of the other.
“Is there anything we can do to assist you?”
“No, I have it all under control, thanks. Please help yourself to the food and drinks out on the patio.”
“We will. Thanks,” Laura said, taking my arm and steering me back through the living room.
“Peter is very nice,” I commented as we stepped through the doors and headed towards the drinks table. “Can I make you something?”
“A mimosa, thanks. Yes, Peter’s a sweetie.”
We stood sipping our drinks as I scanned the crowd of mostly men, a mix of young and old, before Laura took me around, introducing me to the people she knew.
I instinctively searched their eyes for the essence of another while ignoring Laura’s scrutinizing gaze.
Laura needed to use the bathroom, so she left me standing under the large Ficus tree where we had sought shade from the sun. Within minutes of her departure, I was surrounded by a large group of people vying for my attention. Carrying on multiple conversations was challenging, but I did my best to make each person feel they had my full attention.
He caught my attention on the periphery of my vision: tall and well-built, resembling the small statue of the god Mars that sat on the table in Joseph’s shop. Our eyes met, and I felt my heart skip a beat, seeing something flash in his eyes. Smiling hopefully, I extended my hand to him.
“Hello, my name is Christopher Dunn.”
As he shook my hand, I took the opportunity to search his golden-brown eyes. My initial hope turned to disappointment, for while something was there, it was not another’s essence. Though disappointed, I was intrigued.
“Davidmartelli.”
He slurred the two names into one in his haste to get the words out.
As I gazed into his eyes, the feeling of a purpose to our meeting appeared—first Laura and now David.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, David Martelli,” I said, saying his name distinctly.
David blushed attractively, causing a twinge in my heart.
“Can I get you a drink?”
He looked so crestfallen when I held up my cup that I was tempted to down my drink and ask him for another.
“Oh, you have one.”
“I do, but I appreciate you asking.”
I gave him a smile to back up my words. It was apparent that David was struggling to find something to say, the frustration evident in his handsome features. I wanted to get him away from the people surrounding us and talk to him alone, but I did not see how I could do so without offending everyone else.
Conscious of the eyes watching us, David blushed again and backed away.
For some reason, I knew that this behavior was out of character for him. Watching him walk away, I hoped we would meet again as I wanted to discover what I saw in his eyes.
About the Author
Stephen Hardy was born in the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific Northwest. His career as a fashion designer took him back to San Francisco before he headed to New York City, where he met his husband of twenty years. Tiring of the hectic pace of the fashion industry, Stephen gave up his career to become a stay-at-home dad for his and his husband’s two adopted sons and a quiet life in Connecticut. Now residing in Phoenix, Arizona, and with the kids grown, Stephen returned to university, where he rediscovered his love for writing. His focus is on contemporary fiction, examining social issues regarding gender, sexuality, and relationships. Search for Complete is his first novel.
I
was born in the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific
Northwest in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Washington. While
working as a clothing designer, I lived in Seattle, San Francisco,
and New York. I now live with my husband and two cats in a high-rise
condo in downtown Phoenix. I love the big open sky and desert
scenery, and the proximity to San Diego, where my trilogy is set.
What
would people be most surprised to know about you?
You
wouldn’t know it now, but as a child and teenager, I was extremely
introverted and shy.
Do
you have a favorite quote (either from your own books or ones
you’ve read)?
It
is more important to be a person who does a good thing than to be a
good person.
How
long have you been writing, and what made you fall in love with
writing?
I
began my writing career four and a half years ago. Search for
Complete was my first novel, and initially, I planned on it being a
stand-alone novel. However, upon completion, I realized that there
was more to tell. So, I wrote two more books to make the Christopher
Trilogy. I enjoyed every moment of the process, other than querying
agents and getting rejected. This is why I opted to self-publish.
Working with my designer on the cover designs has been the most
thrilling part of the process, other than holding a physical copy of
the books—that feeling is priceless.
Did
you always want to be a writer?
I think I always knew
I wanted to write a novel, but it wasn’t until I was inspired by a
conversation with friends over brunch that I sat down to write a
novel. I worked as a clothing designer for over 20 years and then
became a stay-at-home dad when my husband and I adopted our two sons
in 2008. I only had an associate's degree in fashion design, which
had been enough for my career choice, but I always wanted to get my
bachelor's degree. In 2017 I enrolled at Arizona State University and
got my B.A. degree in Fashion Design with a minor in History. I think
it was writing so many essays and research papers that brought back
my love for writing and made my jump into writing my first novel that
much easier.
What
are your ambitions for your writing career?
To
say I didn’t want to be a best-selling novelist someday would be a
lie, but my greatest ambition as a writer is to provide my readers
with a new way of looking at their world and themselves. Anything I
write must have a purpose or reason for being, and I want my readers
to understand that purpose.
Tell
us about your writing style.
My stories are
dialogue-heavy. I love conversations, and the three books in the
series are all about conversations and how they can be a catalyst for
change. It is my way of getting into my character’s heads and for
my readers to understand them better.
What
does your writing process look like?
In general, I prefer
to write when I know I will have little to no interruptions or
chores. I need to have at least 5 or more hours available to me,
though I may not always write during the whole time. I play music
reflective of the mood I am creating and work at my mid-century desk
on my laptop. At other times, I do like to take my laptop to a coffee
house where other writers are working, pop in my airbuds, and write
for hours.
When I am editing a
first draft, I prefer to go away for a long weekend somewhere up
north, like Flagstaff or Sedona, and hunker down to focus only on the
editing.
Why
did you choose to write LGBT romance/fiction?
Though I think my
books have universal appeal, my being a gay man is the reason why I
wrote LGBTQ+ fiction. That is my perspective on life. But I have gay,
straight, bi, asexual, and transgender characters in my books, and I
hope that they have their own distinct voices.
Do
you write any other genre?
I am currently
writing a novel that is Literary Fiction. It is a prequel to Jane
Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, featuring Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley,
looking at their unlikely friendship, something that I had always
questioned. I am attempting to write in Austen’s vernacular, which
is challenging but fun.
Describe
a scene in your writing that has made you laugh or cry?
There
is a scene in When the Sun and Moon Touch that I found very moving.
Benjamin has had a turbulent relationship with his dad and hates him.
When his dad, Elijah, is in hospital, dying from liver disease
brought on by his drinking, Christopher tells Benjamin that it is
imperative that he sees his father; otherwise, he will regret the
lost opportunity to forgive him. When Benjamin and Christopher find
out from Benjamin’s mother that her husband has lived his whole
life as a closeted gay man, hating his son for being gay while also
jealous of his son living his life as he is and regretting the waste
of his own life, Christopher is even more sure of his insistence that
Benjamin has closure with his dad.
Christopher and Benjamin enter the room
where Elijah is lying. Elijah initially lashes out, calling
Christopher a faggot like his son. Christopher, unperturbed,
approaches Elijah.
Leaning over him, he speaks to him gently,
“…Just like you, I deserve to be treated with respect and
kindness, as I intend to do with you. At this point in your life, it
is important to let out what you have been hiding away. After all,
where has doing so got you?”
“I
don’t know what you’re talking about,” Elijah said, not meeting
my eyes.
“Elijah,
you do, and it is important that you make peace with yourself. But I
will not press you further other than to say that I see
you.”
At
that, Elijah met my gaze, and his eyes widened.
To
be seen is what everyone wants in life.
Give
us a little insight into your main characters. Who are they?
In
books 1 & 2, the main characters are:
Christopher Dunn is a young man in his late
20s who possesses the essence of both a male and female. He
identifies as male but sees the world with the eyes of both sexes.
He is also asexual. Christopher has auburn hair, hazel eyes,
pale-complexioned and breathtakingly beautiful.
Laura Chasen is a woman in her early 30s,
straight and desperately wanting a husband. She is a brunette with
blue eyes and a plump, attractive figure, though she thinks she’s
fat.
In book 3 we meet:
Benjamin Johnson is a few years older than
Christopher. He is African American and possesses two male essences.
He identifies as a gay male and is also asexual.
Will
we be seeing these characters again? Is this book part of a series?
When the Sun and Moon Touch is the third
and final book in the series. However, I am considering developing a
spin-off novel where we would see Christopher and Benjamin in minor
roles.
What
genre/s do you enjoy reading in your free time?
I enjoy reading
biographies of historical figures and events, Victorian Literary
Fiction, especially Anthony Trollop, and Golden Age Mystery writers
such as Christie and Sayers.
How
do you relax?
My
husband and I support the Arts in Phoenix and attend many events,
including live theatre, ballet, and opera. While to some, this may
seem like an activity, I find it very relaxing. In addition, I enjoy
watching historical documentaries.
What
hobbies do you have outside of writing?
I am not sure it counts as a hobby, but I
am a board member for Ballet Arizona and am involved in promoting and
fundraising.
“Why do I get the feeling that Christopher is the type of man that would make the perfect husband for any woman and, at the same time, the perfect wife for any man?” Laura says shortly after Christopher begins his new job at the TV station. Laura’s statement would turn out to hold more truth than she could imagine. No one who meets Christopher, especially not Laura, as well as David, a gay man he meets at a party, understands what it is about him that draws them to him. They also don’t realize that Christopher is searching for something, a search complicated by their desires for him.
Excerpt
I began to question accepting Laura’s invitation when I heard the noise coming from the backyard as we approached the house. I disliked crowds, and it sounded like an immense crowd was on the other side of the gate.
People were everywhere—seated on lounge chairs scattered around the patio or at the rectangular dining table or milling about in various groups—talking loudly over the blaring music. Laura’s voice broke through the noise.
“I don’t see Peter anywhere. He might be inside. Shall we find him?”
“By all means. I would feel uncomfortable attending his party without meeting him.”
I followed Laura into the house. As we passed through the living room, my eyes fell on a few framed photos of a handsome couple on the wall.
In the kitchen, a solitary male figure was removing a tray of croissants from the oven.
“Hello, Peter.”
As he turned around, I recognized Peter as one of the men in the photos. Tall and slender, with dark hair and a mustache waxed into handlebars, there was a dapperness to him that I found pleasing.
“Hey, Laura. Lovely to see you!”
After setting the hot tray down, Peter hugged her.
“Peter, I want you to meet Christopher. He just moved here from Seattle and works with me at the station.”
“How do you do, Peter?“
Having grown used to the reaction my presence caused, I smiled patiently as Peter, unable to speak right away, shook my offered hand.
“I hope you do not mind my crashing your party. Laura assured me that you would not object to her bringing me.”
“No, of course, I don’t mind.”
The words tumbled out one on top of the other.
“Is there anything we can do to assist you?”
“No, I have it all under control, thanks. Please help yourself to the food and drinks out on the patio.”
“We will. Thanks,” Laura said, taking my arm and steering me back through the living room.
“Peter is very nice,” I commented as we stepped through the doors and headed towards the drinks table. “Can I make you something?”
“A mimosa, thanks. Yes, Peter’s a sweetie.”
We stood sipping our drinks as I scanned the crowd of mostly men, a mix of young and old, before Laura took me around, introducing me to the people she knew.
I instinctively searched their eyes for the essence of another while ignoring Laura’s scrutinizing gaze.
Laura needed to use the bathroom, so she left me standing under the large Ficus tree where we had sought shade from the sun. Within minutes of her departure, I was surrounded by a large group of people vying for my attention. Carrying on multiple conversations was challenging, but I did my best to make each person feel they had my full attention.
He caught my attention on the periphery of my vision: tall and well-built, resembling the small statue of the god Mars that sat on the table in Joseph’s shop. Our eyes met, and I felt my heart skip a beat, seeing something flash in his eyes. Smiling hopefully, I extended my hand to him.
“Hello, my name is Christopher Dunn.”
As he shook my hand, I took the opportunity to search his golden-brown eyes. My initial hope turned to disappointment, for while something was there, it was not another’s essence. Though disappointed, I was intrigued.
“Davidmartelli.”
He slurred the two names into one in his haste to get the words out.
As I gazed into his eyes, the feeling of a purpose to our meeting appeared—first Laura and now David.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, David Martelli,” I said, saying his name distinctly.
David blushed attractively, causing a twinge in my heart.
“Can I get you a drink?”
He looked so crestfallen when I held up my cup that I was tempted to down my drink and ask him for another.
“Oh, you have one.”
“I do, but I appreciate you asking.”
I gave him a smile to back up my words. It was apparent that David was struggling to find something to say, the frustration evident in his handsome features. I wanted to get him away from the people surrounding us and talk to him alone, but I did not see how I could do so without offending everyone else.
Conscious of the eyes watching us, David blushed again and backed away.
For some reason, I knew that this behavior was out of character for him. Watching him walk away, I hoped we would meet again as I wanted to discover what I saw in his eyes.
About the Author
Stephen Hardy was born in the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific Northwest. His career as a fashion designer took him back to San Francisco before he headed to New York City, where he met his husband of twenty years. Tiring of the hectic pace of the fashion industry, Stephen gave up his career to become a stay-at-home dad for his and his husband’s two adopted sons and a quiet life in Connecticut. Now residing in Phoenix, Arizona, and with the kids grown, Stephen returned to university, where he rediscovered his love for writing. His focus is on contemporary fiction, examining social issues regarding gender, sexuality, and relationships. Search for Complete is his first novel, and a sequel is expected in early 2024.
Originally
from the Pacific Northwest, I currently live in Phoenix, AZ with my
husband of 20 years. We met in New York City and then moved to
Connecticut where we adopted our two sons. The boys were 6 & 7
when we adopted them from the foster system and are now 20 & 22.
I began my writing career 4 years ago and Search for Complete is my
debut novel. I did try the traditional route of publishing, but my
novel is a difficult one to categorize and I decided to self-publish.
The first of a planned three book series, I have book two written
with plans to publish at the end of the year and book three is about
halfway written with plans for a summer 2024 release.
How
long have you been an author?
4
years. I began work on my first novel in the summer of 2019
What/who
inspired you to start writing?
I
was inspired to begin writing Search for Complete after a
conversation I had with some friends. A statement was made which got
me thinking and the story just flowed out of me.
Tell
us about your new release. What inspired you to write it?
As
I mention above, the inspiration came from a conversation. My husband
and I were having brunch with another couple, who are straight, and
the husband made the comment on how similar his wife and I were to
the point that he would hear me say something and think it was his
wife saying those words. Out of this came my protagonist,
Christopher, a young man in possession of both a male and female
essence. He is asexual but attracted to both men and women. Because
of who he is, Laura, the other main character says, “Why do I get
the feeling that Christopher would make the perfect husband for any
woman, and the perfect wife for any man?” And that is Christopher,
if sexual intimacy were taken out of the equation.
How
did you decide on the title?
The
title came from one of the main themes of the novel. Christopher,
though complete in essence, is searching for something that will make
his female essence have a physical presence, thereby making him
physically whole again, as his earliest ancestor, a creation of the
moon had been.
What
are you working on at present? Would you like to share a snippet?
I
am beta-reading book two in the series, entitled The Price of
Happiness, and writing book three, When the Sun and Moon Meet. Book
two continues the story of Christopher and Laura, picking up a few
months after the birth of their twins. The twins bring so much joy to
Christopher, but not to Laura, who begins to feel resentment towards
Christopher. He got everything he wanted, but she feels like she
didn’t. The story follows their journey as a couple co-parenting
twins, but more importantly, Laura’s journey of self-discovery. In
addition, I have another novel about an eighteen-year-old gay man who
is on the autism spectrum, looking for love during his first year at
college. I was inspired to write this story after watching the
Australian docu-series Love on the Spectrum.
What
is the hardest part of writing any book?
The
hardest part for me is editing out scenes I may love but which don’t
move the story along.
Are
there any genres you prefer to write, and if so, why?
I
feel it is important to write what you know. As a gay man, I write
stories that are inspired by my experiences and observations of being
gay. As such, while not all of my characters are in the LGBTQ+
community, I prefer to write in this genre. Ideally, though, I would
like to think that my writing crosses genres and would appeal to a
wider audience.
What
novels do you adore/re-read?
My
favorite novel of all time is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I
love her character development and insightfulness into human
behaviors. I have been working on and off on a prequel to this novel,
told from Mr Darcy’s point of view. It is a slow process as I am
attempting to write in Austen’s vernacular.
Which
other writers do you follow?
Kyle
Scafide, who wrote Angel on My Corner.
Are
any of your characters based on you or people you know?
There
is a lot of me in Christopher, and I based the minor character of
Peter on my husband. But the others are an amalgamation of random
people I have known in the past.
Do
characters and stories just pop into your head, or do you take your
time thinking about and planning them?
I
experience both methods when writing. Search for Complete just popped
into my head and I began writing without an outline or a preconceived
outcome. The story evolved as I wrote. With the sequels, I did take
some time thinking and planning the story lines, as I had to figure
out the principal character’s journeys based on where they had been
at the conclusion of the first book.
How
often do you write? Do you have a schedule?
I
try writing every day during the week for a few hours. Weekends I
tend not to write so I can spend time with my husband. Occasionally,
I plan writing weekends where I rent an Airbnb in Flagstaff or Sedona
and get away with no distractions. I usually do this when I am
editing a first draft or struggling with the initial draft.
What
are your writing and personal goals for 2023 and beyond?
My
writing goals for the rest of this year and beyond is to publish the
second book in the series by the end of this year, publish the third
book in mid-2024 and then finish the novel about a gay teenager on
the autism spectrum looking for love during his first year of
college.
Are
you a cat person or a dog person? Tell us about your pets.
Definitely
a cat person. I grew up with them and my husband and I have three,
all siblings, two girls and a boy. They each have very different
personalities and quirks. Zen, the boy is like a dog in that he likes
to follow us around the house and greets us when we come home. Abby
is the loving one, likes to sit right next to us and cuddle. Zoe is
a bit more independent, but lets us know when she wants attention,
Her preferred spot in hanging over our shoulder and being carried
around.
If
you had access to a time machine just once, is there anything you'd
go back and change? Either on a personal level or an historical
event?
I
like my life now and am afraid of going back in time and changing
anything personally for fear of altering my life now. However, if I
could go back further in time, I would like to be part of the
Versailles Treaty committee and convince the allied forces not to
seek retribution from Germany after WWI. Had they not crippled
Germany’s economy, WWII might never have happened.
If
you could go anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would
you go, who would you take with you, if anyone, and why?
I
would take my husband on a round the world cruise, stopping off at
many ports to see as much of the world as possible.
